System and method for real world biometric analytics through the use of a multimodal biometric analytic wallet

ABSTRACT

A system and method for real world biometric analytics through the use of a multimodal analytic wallet. The system includes a biometric wallet comprising a pervasive repository for storing biometric data, the pervasive repository including at least one of a biometric layer, a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and a processing layer. The biometric wallet further comprises a biometric analytic interface configured to communicate the biometric data to one or more devices.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a system and method for usingbiometric data and, in particular, to a system and method for real worldbiometric analytics through the use of a multimodal analytic wallet.

BACKGROUND

A number of technologies have been developed in response to theincreased need for secured transactions, communications, and datastorage. One such technology is biometrics. Biometrics is a technologyfor uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsicphysical, cognitive, or behavioral traits. Exemplary biometrics mayinclude fingerprints, facial patterns, iris patterns, deoxyribonucleicacid (DNA), voice recognition, etc.

For example, a fingerprint can be scanned using a biometric system, suchas a biometric sensor, and the uniqueness of the fingerprint can bedetermined by analyzing the patterns of ridges and furrows that occur onthe scanned fingerprint. Authentication of the fingerprint can beperformed manually by a human or electronically by comparing any numberof the fingerprint patterns to existing fingerprint data until a matchoccurs. Thereby, allowing an individual to be personally identified byhis or her physical traits.

Similarly, an iris scan may be used to personally identify anindividual. Iris recognition may be performed, e.g., using cameratechnologies with infrared illumination to reduce specular reflectionfrom the individual's convex cornea. This allows for a detailed image ofthe iris, which may be converted into a digital template and used topersonally identify an individual by his or her physical traits.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the invention, a system includes a biometric walletcomprising a pervasive repository for storing biometric data, thepervasive repository including at least one of a biometric layer, agenomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and a processing layer.The biometric wallet further comprises a biometric analytic interfaceconfigured to communicate the biometric data to one or more devices.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer implemented method forusing biometric data comprises accessing biometric data via anacquisition device and processing the biometric data. The computerimplemented method further comprises storing the biometric data in abiometric wallet and communicating the biometric data to one or moredevices via a biometric analytic interface.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer program productcomprising a computer usable storage medium having readable program codeembodied in the storage medium is provided. The computer program productincludes at least one component operable to: sense biometric datacomprising at least one of physiological biometric data, behavioralbiometric data, and cognitive biometric data; and store the biometricdata in a pervasive repository having at least one of a biometric layer,a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and a processinglayer.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a method for communicatingbiometric data comprises providing a computer infrastructure beingoperable to: check a user defined privacy policy; obtain the biometricdata from a user; store the biometric data in a pervasive repository;and communicate the biometric data to one or more devices via abiometric analytic interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in the detailed description whichfollows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment for implementing the steps inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a pervasive repository comprising five layers according toaspects of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a biometric storage layer according to aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 4 shows a genomic layer according to aspects of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a health layer according to aspects of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a privacy layer according to aspects of the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary biometric analytic interface knowledgerepresentation according to aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is directed to a system and method for using biometricdata and, in particular, to a system and method for real world biometricanalytics through the use of a multimodal analytic wallet. Morespecifically, the invention utilizes a multimodal biometric analyticwallet (“biometric wallet”) for gathering, storing, and communicatingbiometric information. The biometric wallet comprises a pervasiverepository and one or more biometric analytic interfaces.

There are multiple systems that may be used to acquire biometric datafrom a user. For example, unimodal biometric systems may be used toacquire a single biometric characteristic, such as a fingerprint, forauthentication. However, unimodal systems are unable to combine otherbiometric analytic data for user authentication.

Multimodal biometric systems may also be used to acquire biometric datafrom a user. Unlike unimodal systems, multimodal biometric systemsattempt to integrate traditional and behavioral biometriccharacteristics for user authentication. Existing multimodal biometricsystems include statically defined biometric acquisition points, fusionpolicies, and computational algorithms for user authentication. However,existing multimodal systems do not combine multimodal information and donot include other types of information such as the human genome, healthdata, and family history.

Manual health data systems may also be used to acquire biometric datafrom one or more devices. Exemplary devices may include magneticresonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (FMRI) as well as devicessuch as a stethoscope. However, manual health data systems fail toprovide an amorphous service oriented architecture to combine multimodalinformation. Moreover, there is no way to use the acquired health datafor user verification or authentication.

The present invention allows biometric data to be acquired from a uservia any one or more of the above noted devices or from any number ofadditional devices known to those of skill in the art. Once acquired,the biometric wallet is configured to store disparate biometricinformation on a pervasive storage device or repository that can be usedto, e.g., authenticate users.

The pervasive repository may store a plurality of different types ofbiometric information. For example, the pervasive repository may includea storage layer for a user's biometric data, genomic data, and healthdata. The biometric data may include physiological, behavioral, and/orcognitive biometric information. The genomic data may include DNAinformation about the user and the health layer may include, e.g.,family information and medical history.

In embodiments, the pervasive repository may also include a privacylayer which provides mechanisms to protect biometric data from beingacquired from remote sensing. The pervasive repository may also includea processing layer configured to provide perpetual biometric analyticprocessing and data mining for health analysis, behavioral predictions,physiological monitoring, and environment cues. In embodiments, theprocessing layer may be configured to verify that the data in thebiometric wallet is from the user in possession of the biometric wallet.The processing layer may also be used to determine and track the user'slocation using, e.g., a global positioning system (GPS). These layersmake it possible for the pervasive repository to support disparatebiometric analytic acquisition with the potential for multi-modalrollup.

In addition to a pervasive repository the biometric wallet may alsocomprise a biometric analytic interface, which enables thetransportation and analysis of real time on body information to one ormore devices. In particular, the biometric analytic interface allows theinformation stored in the pervasive repository to be sensed by one ormore acquisition devices. In embodiments, the acquisition devices mayinclude remote sensors that act as service points for the biometricwallet.

The biometric analytic interface may also be used to transfer biometricdata to a central computer configured to act on data stored in thepervasive repository. In embodiments, the central computer may utilizeone or more analytic algorithms to link user characteristics andbehavioral traits within the user's biometric wallet.

Accordingly, the present invention beneficially allows disparatebiometric information to be stored on a pervasive storage device andused to authenticate users. The invention also beneficially providesmechanisms for combining genomic, health, and biometric data as well asderiving a user's cognitive state. Moreover, the invention furtherprovides mechanisms for transferring biometric information to one ormore acquisition devices.

System Environment

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present invention may take the form of a computer program productembodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usableprogram code embodied in the medium.

Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readablemedium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readablemedium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustivelist) of the computer-readable medium would include the following:

-   -   a portable computer diskette,    -   a hard disk,    -   a random access memory (RAM),    -   a read-only memory (ROM),    -   an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash        memory),    -   a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM),    -   an optical storage device, and/or        The computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be        paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is        printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for        instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then        compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable        manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readablemedium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer usableprogram code may be transmitted using any appropriate transmission mediavia a network.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through any type ofnetwork. This may include, for example, a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative environment 10 for managing the processesin accordance with the invention. To this extent, the environment 10includes a computer infrastructure 12 that can perform the processesdescribed herein. In particular, the computer infrastructure 12 includesa computing device 14 that comprises a Biometric Wallet 35, which makescomputing device 14 operable to acquire, process, and transmit biometricdata in accordance with the invention, e.g., process described herein.

The computing device 14 also includes a processor 20, a memory 22A, anI/O interface 24, and a bus 26. The memory 22A can include local memoryemployed during actual execution of program code, bulk storage, andcache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some programcode in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved frombulk storage during execution.

The computing device 14 is in further communication with the externalI/O device/resource 28 and the storage system 22B. For example, the I/Odevice 28 can comprise any device that enables an individual to interactwith the computing device 14 or any device that enables the computingdevice 14 to communicate with one or more other computing devices usingany type of communications link. The external I/O device/resource 28 maybe keyboards, displays, pointing devices, microphones, headsets, etc.

In general, the processor 20 executes computer program code, which isstored in the memory 22A and/or storage system 22B. The computer codemay be representable of the functionality of the Biometric Wallet 35.While executing computer program code, the processor 20 can read and/orwrite data to/from memory 22A, storage system 22B, and/or I/O interface24. The program code executes the processes of the invention. The bus 26provides a communications link between each of the components in thecomputing device 14.

The computing device 14 can comprise any general purpose computingarticle of manufacture capable of executing computer program codeinstalled thereon (e.g., a personal computer, server, handheld device,etc.). However, it is understood that the computing device 14 is onlyrepresentative of various possible equivalent computing devices that mayperform the processes described herein. To this extent, in embodiments,the functionality provided by the computing device 14 can be implementedby a computing article of manufacture that includes any combination ofgeneral and/or specific purpose hardware and/or computer program code.In each embodiment, the program code and hardware can be created usingstandard programming and engineering techniques, respectively.

Similarly, the server 12 is only illustrative of various types ofcomputer infrastructures for implementing the invention. For example, inembodiments, the server 12 comprises two or more computing devices(e.g., a server cluster) that communicate over any type ofcommunications link, such as a network, a shared memory, or the like, toperform the processes described herein. Further, while performing theprocesses described herein, one or more computing devices on the server12 can communicate with one or more other computing devices external tothe server 12 using any type of communications link. The communicationslink can comprise any combination of wired and/or wireless links; anycombination of one or more types of networks (e.g., the Internet, a widearea network, a local area network, a virtual private network, etc.);and/or utilize any combination of transmission techniques and protocols.

In embodiments, the invention provides a business method that performsthe steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or feebasis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, couldoffer to perform the processes described herein. In this case, theservice provider can create, maintain, deploy, support, etc., a computerinfrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for oneor more customers. In return, the service provider can receive paymentfrom the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/orthe service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertisingcontent to one or more third parties.

Exemplary Implementation of the System

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Pervasive Repository

The biometric wallet comprises a pervasive repository, which isconfigured to store physiological, behavioral, and cognitive traits andcharacteristics with health data and a subject's genome. In embodiments,one or more distributed sub-instances of the pervasive repository may becreated, thereby making the pervasive repository inherently distributed.The distributed sub-instances may be created based on determined privacypolicies, which may be loaded onto extensible items with biometricanalytic interfaces. For example, a biometric analytic interface mayinclude a privacy policy that designates what information anotherbiometric analytic interface or acquisition device may obtain. Thepervasive repository and/or one or more distributed sub-instances of thepervasive repository may be embodied as a storage unit 22B.

FIG. 2 shows a pervasive repository comprising five layers in accordancewith embodiments of the invention. The five layers of the pervasiverepository 200 include a biometric storage layer 210, a genomic layer220, a health layer 230, a privacy layer 240, and a processing layer250. While five layers are disclosed herein, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited tofive layers and may be expanded to include additional layers asappropriate.

FIG. 3 shows a biometric storage layer in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention. The biometric storage layer 210 may be used to storeinformation acquired from a person's body and may include trigger pointsfor health monitoring. In embodiments, the information can be dividedinto three classes or layers of biometric information includingphysiological 310, behavioral 320, and cognitive 330 information.

The physiological layer 310 may include biometrics relating to aperson's physical characteristics. These characteristics may include theperson's face, hand geometry, fingers, ear/pina, iris, retina and/orteeth, etc. In embodiments, additional physiological information mayalso be obtained and stored in the physiological layer 310 or in a userdefined field. An exemplary user defined field may be illustrated inaccordance with aspects of the Federal Bureau of Investigation'sElectronic Fingerprint Transmission Specification (EFTS).

The behavioral layer 320 may include biometrics relating to the person'sactions and/or conduct. For example, the behavioral layer 320 mayinclude characteristics relating to a person's voice such as vocal tractencoding and/or voice spectral information. The behavioral layer 320 mayalso include biometrics relating to skin luminescence, thermograms,venule/arteriole/vein/artery blood flow, signature, eye movement, and/orgait, etc.

The cognitive layer 330 may include biometrics relating to a person'sthinking, learning, perception, awareness, and/or judgment. For example,the cognitive layer 330 may provide a storage mechanism for thoughtpatterns, Purkinje fiber activations, functional magnetic resonanceimaging (fMRI) under labeled movements and thoughts, limb control brainmapping, and/or electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings with respect tothought and movement, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a genomic layer in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The genomic layer 220 is configured to maintain a list of oneor more genetic disorders. In embodiments, these genetic disorders maybe synched with a distributed genetic disorder database.

In particular, the genomic layer 220 may store information about thebiometric wallet owner's genome 410, genes, and/or chromosomes. A genome410 is the complete genetic sequence of an organism, which is stored ona chromosome. A chromosome consists of a DNA helix on which thousands ofgenes are encoded. Each gene corresponds to a unit of inheritance, whichmay be associated with regulatory regions, transcribed regions, and/orother functional sequence regions.

The genomic layer 220 may process the owner's genomic sequence. Inembodiments, this processing may be performed using a processing queue420, which may keep a line of patterns 430. These patterns 430 may besearched and compared with known genetic disorders to determine whetherthe owner has a possible genetic risks and/or disorders. The geneticdisorders may be maintained by the genomic layer 220 and synched with adistributed genetic disorder database.

Thus, the genomic layer 220 stores an individual's genome 410 andprocesses it to determine genetic disorders. The patterns 430 from thegenetic disorders may be continually or periodically searched using oneor more search algorithms. If a probable match is found, the resultingnucleotide matches may be stored for data retrieval.

FIG. 5 shows a health layer in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The health layer 230 is configured to provide knowledge thatmay be correlated with the person's health state and risk factors. Thehealth layer 230 may include the person's diagnosis history, familyrecords, hereditary diseases, current health status, bodily statistics,and/or regional epidemiology factors. In embodiments, one or more ofthese factors may be used to provide predictive health monitoring andsuggestions via a biometric analytic interface.

For example, the health layer 230 may maintain knowledge as to the lasttime the person was sick and recent symptoms the person has had. Thisinformation may be compared to the person's family records and/or theperson's hereditary diseases to determine possible ailments that may beinflicting the person. The possible ailments may be acquired by a healthcare professional via an acquisition device and used to diagnose theperson.

FIG. 6 shows a privacy layer in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The privacy layer 240 is configured to protect personal dataand enable multi-layer security so that only authenticated individualsor automated systems 610 are granted access to the information stored inthe user's biometric wallet 620. Thus, for example, a person'shereditary diseases may only be accessible to the user and the user'sphysician.

A variety of methods may be used to ensure data privacy. For example,the privacy layer 240 may employ any number of cancelable biometrictechnologies, which perform a distortion on one or more biometric imagesor features before authenticating the user. The distortion may beperformed using a non-invertible biometric template stored within thebiometric storage layer. In embodiments, any number of variableparameters may be utilized to provide the non-invertible function.

The privacy layer 240 may include additional types of data protection.For example, the privacy layer may include keystores, which providecertificates signed by certificate authorities for a public keyinfrastructure (PKI). Moreover, the privacy layer 240 may use securesocket layers (SSL) and encryption capabilities to protect the user'sbiometric data from public interception and/or packet snooping.Additional exemplary data protections may include, e.g., internetprotocol tables, user identifiers (UID), internet protocol filtering,and/or access control lists and encryption, etc.

The processing layer 250 is configured to provide perpetual biometricanalytic processing and data mining for health analysis, behavioralpredictions, physiological monitoring, and environment cues. Thisanalytic processing may be perpetual or periodic.

In particular, the processing layer 250 may be configured to verify thatthe data in the biometric wallet is from the user in possession of thebiometric wallet. In embodiments, this may be performed by periodicallycomparing the user's biometric information to the biometric informationstored in the biometric wallet. Alternatively, this verification mayalso be performed by having the user periodically re-verify himself orherself by entering a code, password, biometric information, etc., intothe biometric wallet. The re-verification may be required when thebiometric wallet exceeds a predefined distance from the user or apredefined period of time has elapsed. In embodiments, the user may benotified of the need to re-verify himself or herself via a vocal promptfrom the biometric wallet, a physical alert such as a vibration, etc.

The processing layer 250 may also be used to determine and tracklocational and environmental information. For example, the processinglayer 250 may be used to determine and/or track a user's location, thespeed in which the user is moving at any given time, etc., using aglobal positioning system (GPS) or similar device. The processing layer250 may also include one or more sensors to determine the temperature,amount of moisture in the air, barometric pressure, etc. Thisinformation may be stored in the pervasive repository and, inembodiments, may be accessed by the user via the biometric analyticinterface.

In embodiments, the traits, characteristics, and data in the pervasiverepository may be synched to a central computer or repository via thebiometric analytic interface. For example, as a user with a biometricwallet moves in and out of range of the central computer repository,both may be synched. The range within which the synching occurs may bedynamically defined and may relate to a geographical distance such asinches, feet, yards, meters, and/or miles, etc. The range may alsorelate to, e.g., the distance in which a person may be heard whileshouting, talking, and/or whispering. Moreover, in embodiments, therange may be related to an event that influences when and/or howfrequently biometric information can be obtained from the biometricwallet's biometric analytic interface.

Biometric Analytic Interface

Biometric analytic interfaces are ubiquitous interfaces configured toprovide service points to acquisition devices, traveling repositories,and analytic environments. In essence, biometric analytic interfaces maybe embodied as amorphous service oriented architectures. One or morebiometric analytic interfaces may be included in any number of realworld items including clothing, accessories, digital and mechanicaldevices, as well as any other extensible item. For example, biometricanalytic interfaces may be included in cards, phones, sweaters, shoes,eye glasses, etc. The biometric analytic interfaces are configured toprovide mechanisms for parallel acquisition and processing as well as toprovide a mechanism to synch to a central computer or repository, whichmay perform algorithms to combine disparate biometric data. The centralrepository may be embodied as a storage unit 22B.

For example, a user with a biometric wallet may be shopping at a storeand come into contact with an acquisition device, such as a biometricanalytic interface. Depending on the user's privacy settings, theacquisition device may obtain biometric information about the user, suchas a user's response to a product, via the user's biometric analyticinterface. The acquisition device may use this information to, e.g.,determine that the user's heart rate is increasing while looking at theproduct. The acquisition device, or a processing device associated withthe acquisition device, can associate the increased heart rate with theuser being interested in the product. In embodiments, this informationmay be used to, e.g., offer the user a coupon for the product, recommendsimilar products to the user, provide an audio interface or prompt todescribe the product, etc.

While information associated with a user's biometric wallet isconfigured to be transferable, it should be understood that limits maybe placed on the transferability of any one or more pieces ofinformation within the biometric wallet. Such transferability may belimited, e.g., by a user's privacy policy. However, in embodiments, anacquisition device may obtain information from a user via one or moresensor that are unrelated to the user's biometric wallet. For example,an acquisition device may include an optic interface, which allows theuser's response to be monitored without accessing the user's biometricwallet. These acquisitions may or may not be approved by the user priorto the acquisition.

In embodiments, the biometric analytic interface may be connected to acomputer via a docking station or other mechanism configured to senddata to a computing device. For example, a user may connect his or herbiometric wallet to a computing device after coming home from a day ofshopping. Once connected, the user may be able to see where he or shewent, what responses he or she had throughout out the day, thetemperature at various points of the day, and/or the biometricinformation obtained about the user throughout the day, etc. Inembodiments, the user may also see what acquisition devices attempted toobtain information about the user via the biometric analytic interface.The user may adjust the privacy settings in the biometric analyticinterface to allow one or more of these acquisition device access tosome or all of the user's biometric data the next time the user comeswithin a predefined distance of the acquisition devices.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary biometric analytic interface knowledgerepresentation in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Inparticular, FIG. 7 includes a biometric analytic interface type, incolumn 700. The type of biometric analytic interface may include, e.g.,a person's watch, a store kiosk, a physician, etc.

FIG. 7 also includes an activation column 710, which identifies therange the biometric analytic interface should be from an acquisitiondevice, such as another biometric analytic interface, a centralrepository, etc. In embodiments, the range may be in inches, feet,yards, meters, and/or miles, etc. Optionally, the range may relate to,e.g., the distance in which a person may be heard while shouting,talking, and/or whispering. While a range is indicated in activationcolumn 710, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that anynumber of mechanisms and/or events may be used to determine when and/orhow frequently biometric information can be obtained from the biometricwallet's biometric analytic interface.

An output column 720 and an input column 730 may also be included aspart of the biometric analytic interface. The output column 720 mayrepresent the knowledge sent from the biometric analytic interface tothe acquisition device. The input column 730 may represent informationthat may be sent to, e.g., a central repository.

For example, Type 1 may be representative of a having a biometricanalytic interface. The biometric analytic interface may acquire andprocess information obtained from a user within a 0.9 meter activationrange of the kiosk. The biometric analytic interface may also sendinformation about the user as output. The amount and/or type ofinformation sent as output may depend on the biometric analyticinterface's privacy policy, as defined by the user. In embodiments, aninput may be used to send information to one or more algorithms,communication rules, etc., which may be included in a centralrepository.

Examples of Use

In embodiments, the biometric wallet may be used for heath monitoring.For example, a user can walk to a health monitoring kiosk, whichrequests permission to acquire biometric information from the user usingan infrared camera. Upon authorization, the kiosk may acquire athermogram of the user and transmit the data to the users biometricwallet and/or to a central repository for storage and processing. Usingthis thermogram image, real time temperature informatics may be derivedabout the user.

Another illustrative example may include an acquisition device in a homesystem, which receives permission from the user via the user's biometricwallet to acquire a skin luminance image of the user. This image may betransmitted to the biometric wallet or to a central repository wherealgorithms may be applied to the luminance image. If the user is sweaty,as contrasted to a baseline image from previously obtained data, thebiometric wallet can send a signal to decrease the room temperatureusing the biometric analytic interface. In embodiments, the sensors inthe acquisition device may update the information to determine if theuser becomes too cold or remains sweaty, thereby allowing thetemperature to be continuously adjusted to the user's comfort.

In yet a further example, a number of athletes in a sporting event mayhave analytic wallets in their uniforms. During coverage of the event,physiological and/or behavioral acquisition devices such as odor andgait devices may solicit permission to acquire data from the athletes.After agreement, the data may be transmitted to a central repository forprocessing and delivered back to the biometric wallet, coaches, a teamdoctor, and/or a sports center desk, etc. This information may be usedto provide an extra dimension of analysis and, e.g., allow coaches todetermine which players need a break from the event.

While the invention has been described in terms of embodiments, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practicedwith modifications and in the spirit and scope of the appended claims.Additionally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Accordingly, while the invention has beendescribed in terms of embodiments, those of skill in the art willrecognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications and inthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

1. A biometric wallet comprising: a pervasive repository for storingbiometric data, the pervasive repository including at least one of abiometric layer, a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and aprocessing layer; and a biometric analytic interface configured tocommunicate the biometric data to one or more devices.
 2. The biometricwallet of claim 1, wherein the biometric layer includes physiologicalbiometric data, behavioral biometric data, and cognitive biometric data.3. The biometric wallet of claim 1, wherein the processing layer isconfigured to process locational data and environmental data.
 4. Thebiometric wallet of claim 1, wherein the biometric analytic interfaceprovides mechanisms for parallel acquisition and processing.
 5. Thebiometric wallet of claim 1, wherein the biometric analytic interfaceincludes a privacy policy.
 6. The biometric wallet of claim 1, whereinthe biometric analytic interface is configured to synch the pervasiverepository to a central repository.
 7. The biometric wallet of claim 6,wherein the central repository applies one or more algorithms to thebiometric data.
 8. A computer implemented method for using biometricdata comprising: accessing biometric data via an acquisition device;processing the biometric data; storing the biometric data in a biometricwallet; and communicating the biometric data to one or more devices viaa biometric analytic interface.
 9. The computer implemented method ofclaim 8, further comprising obtaining permission from a user to accessthe biometric data.
 10. The computer implemented method of claim 8,wherein the acquisition device comprises one or more interfaces.
 11. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 8, wherein the steps of claim 8 areimplemented on a combination of software, hardware, or software andhardware.
 12. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein thesteps of claim 8 are offered by a service provider based on one of a feeand subscription basis.
 13. The computer implemented method of claim 8,wherein a service provider at least one of supports, deploys, maintains,and creates a computer infrastructure that performs the steps of claim8.
 14. The computer implemented method of claim 8, further comprisingaccessing the biometric data via the acquisition device, the biometricdata including physiological biometric data, behavioral biometric data,and cognitive biometric data; obtaining permission from a user to accessthe biometric data; processing the biometric data; and storing thebiometric data in a pervasive repository of a biometric wallet;communicating the biometric data to the one or more devices via thebiometric analytic interface.
 15. A computer program product comprisinga computer usable storage medium having readable program code embodiedin the storage medium, the computer program product includes at leastone component operable to: sense biometric data comprising at least oneof physiological biometric data, behavioral biometric data, andcognitive biometric data; and store the biometric data in a pervasiverepository having at least one of a biometric layer, a genomic layer, ahealth layer, a privacy layer, and a processing layer.
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 15, further comprising at least one componentoperable to communicate the biometric data to one or more devices via abiometric analytic interface.
 17. The computer program product of claim16, wherein the biometric analytic interface is configured to synch thepervasive repository to a central repository.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 15, wherein the computer program product is at leastone of supported, deployed, maintained, and created by a serviceprovider.
 19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein thesteps of claim 15 are offered by a service provider based on one of afee and subscription basis.
 20. The computer program product of claim15, further comprising at least one component operable to: check a userdefined privacy policy; obtain the biometric data comprising at leastone of the physiological biometric data, the behavioral biometric data,and the cognitive biometric data; store the biometric data in thepervasive repository having at least one of the biometric layer, thegenomic layer, the health layer, the privacy layer, and the processinglayer; and communicate the biometric data to one or more devices via abiometric analytic interface.
 21. A method for deploying an applicationfor communicating biometric data, comprising: providing a computerinfrastructure being operable to: check a user defined privacy policy;obtain the biometric data from a user; store the biometric data in apervasive repository; and communicate the biometric data to one or moredevices via a biometric analytic interface.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the pervasive repository includes one or more of a biometriclayer, a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and aprocessing layer
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the biometric dataincludes at least one of physiological biometric data, behavioralbiometric data, and cognitive biometric data.
 24. The method of claim21, wherein the biometric data is obtained via one or more sensors. 25.The method of claim 21, wherein the computer infrastructure is at leastone of supported, deployed, maintained, and created by a serviceprovider.